Are your students ready to learn? How do you focus their attention?

#earlychildhood, Chants, children, Classroom Management, EFL, English, Everybody Up, KIndergarten, Magic Time, musicforkids, Phonemic Awareness, teaching kids, Teaching young learners, teachingyounglearners, Transitional Songs, Young Learners 3 Minutes

If you’re starting a new school year or you’re experiencing the excitement of the end of the year, how do you get all of your students’ attention?  Teachers need to guide students to prepare for learning at different times during a class, such as:

 

Beginning a lesson

Moving to a new space in your classroom 

Introducing an activity

Checking in during an activity

Finishing an activity

First of all, with any strategy you use, you must practice it before you actually use it.

Secondly, the success of each strategy depends on you, your group of students, their age, and their disposition. 

Lastly, choose one or two strategies to start. Figure out what works best. When you’re ready, add a new strategy.

 1. Get attention with something that creates an interesting sound.

screen-shot-2017-03-06-at-9-29-03-pmWhat do you have readily available in your classroom?  A slide whistle is one of the most interesting sounds I have in my classroom.  If you have a big group of students, it quickly gets their attention.  Don’t have a slide whistle?  How about a shaker, a tambourine, or a kazoo?

(Check out West Music for interesting instruments.)

2.  Peace and Quiet

To gesture “peace” you can make a Peace sign with two fingers up. Alternatively, you can just raise your hand.

To gesture “quiet,” put your finger to your lips.

When I say, Peace, you say Quiet. Peace and Quiet.

3. Add a little rhythm and vocal expression to get attention.

Teachers at my school loved this way of getting students’ attention. Nina Septina shared this at the JALT 2023 conference.

a. Echo the same rhythm saying the word, Yes! Change the rhythm, the tempo, your voice, etc.

T: Class, class, class.                                             Echo: Yes, yes, yes!

T: Class, classity, class.                                         Echo: Yes, yessity, yes!

T: (fast) Class, class, class, class, class.             Echo: (fast) Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

T: (whisper) Class, class, class.                           Echo: (whisper) Yes, yes, yes!

b. Rhythm Clap (copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina)

(Clap on every syllable. Students echo your clap.)

I   like    ba-na-nas.      (I   like    ba-na-nas.)

I   like   po-ta-toes.        (I   like   po-ta-toes.)

I   like   to-ma-toes.     (I   like   to-ma-toes.)

4.   How about trying some rhyming conversations?  These help your students develop phonemic awareness too!

Smiling boy posing in front of a wall

My Grade One students love “Hands on Top.”

The teacher says,  Hands on top! (put your hands on top of your head)

The students answer, That means “Stop!” (students do the same)

One, Two, Three, Eyes on Me is another rhyming conversation.

The teacher sings, “One, two, three, eyes on me.”  (so-so, mi, so-so, mi)

Hold up fingers as if you’re counting to three.  Point to yourself.

The students answer, “One, two, eyes on you!”(so, mi, so-so, mi)

Hold up fingers as if you’re counting to two.  Students point to the teacher.

My students can do “Peace and Quiet” (above) by putting two fingers in the air (peace) and one finger to their lips (quiet).

5. How about fun phrases? 

T: Peanut, peanut butter ——-Ss: JELLY.

T: Macaroni and cheese . . . Ss: everybody freeze!

T: Hocus pocus.  Ss: Everybody focus!

Check out more fun attention-getters here from Jenn at The Teacher Next Door.

6.  How about making butterfly wings? 

images-1

I love to pretend with my very young students.  Say, Let’s make butterfly wings. What color are your wings today?”  Pretend to paint each arm by gently rubbing it and naming a color.   i.e  This wing is pink, but this one is purple.

Raise and lower your arms to your sides as if you’re flying. Inhale and exhale.

7. Calm students with this breathing activity called “Candles.”

Finally, inhale while raising your arms from your sides to above your head. Put your hands together above your head, then bring them down in front of you.  Exhale when your hands are in front of your mouth.  This is an effective way to calm students after a lively activity. The teachers I worked with in Tokyo loved the way this activity quickly quieted my students.

Remember to practice your strategies first. Add new strategies little by little. Having some strategies in place will help your classes run smoothly.

If you’re looking for Class Management Songs for Kids, check out this collection on Spotify.

Kathy Kampa loves to bring joy to the world through her children’s music. She is passionate about making learning engaging for young learners. You’ll find more resources on Kathy’s YouTube page.

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Published by magictimekids

Songwriter Kathy Kampa is a passionate educator of young learners. She seeks to nurture children’s imaginations and spark creativity through fun and engaging activities. Kathy believes that music and movement should be a part of every young child’s education. Kathy’s songs for kids (Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays and Jump Jump Everyone) are available on iTunes. Kathy uses a globally-minded and inquiry-based approach to teaching through which students develop 21st-century skills. She also supports the development of English language skills by creating songs, chants, and TPR/movement activities targeted to young learners’ needs. Kathy is an author and teacher-trainer with Oxford University Press. She is delighted to be teaching young learners in her hometown.

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